Written Answers Thursday 23 March 2006

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to ensure that all areas receive adequate ambulance cover.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive Health Department continually monitors and reviews the performance of the Scottish Ambulance Service. We take a particular interest in the emergency ambulance service and how the service is performing across Scotland against its response times targets.

Ambulance Service

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was to the Scottish Ambulance Service in 2005 of hiring of Ministry of Defence or Coastguard Service helicopters to undertake air ambulance missions (a) in the whole of Scotland and (b) originating from Orkney.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Ambulance Service spent just under £497,000 hiring MoD or Coastguard Service aircraft in 2005, with just over £12,000 being spent on missions originating in Orkney.

Biodiversity

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to meet its commitment that at least £200,000 will be available for the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme in 2006-07.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding for the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme (BAGS) will be available from Scottish Natural Heritage in 2006-07 and whether any such funding will be part of, or in addition to, the Executive’s commitment that at least £200,000 will be available for BAGS in 2006-07.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has allocated £400,000 to the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme in 2006-07, which is the third round of the scheme. This comprises the initial allocation of £200,000 and a further allocation of £200,000, which was agreed in 2005-06 in response to the volume and quality of applications. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are taking over the operation of the scheme in 2006-07 and are allocating a further £100,000 to it.

  A number of the projects funded under the scheme run for more than one year. Forward commitments to these projects mean that a total of £167,000 remains uncommitted in 2006-07.

  Funding for biodiversity grants in 2007-08 will be a matter for SNH within the overall annual grant in aid settlement.

Biodiversity

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding, other than the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme, is to be made available to ensure that Scotland meets the target to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is committed to working to meet the European Union’s target to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The Scottish Executive achieves this by setting the policy framework and by funding implementation action largely by other bodies.

  Conserving biodiversity is a core function of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and Scottish ministers provide funds to SNH to deliver this function. SNH expects to spend £18.7 million on biodiversity conservation in 2006-07. SNH has a grant programme of over £15 million in 2006-07, with over £2 million of this allocated specifically for grants for biodiversity action.

  A number of other public bodies also fund biodiversity activity. The Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) expects to spend £7.6 million on biodiversity conservation during 2006-07, including £3.6 million on woodland management and £4 million per annum on planting woodlands of high biodiversity benefit, mostly through the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme. In addition, the FCS spends a further £5.7 million per year on deer management, mainly in the national forest estate. A substantial part of this will benefit biodiversity.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) also contributes directly to biodiversity conservation through its core function of protecting the natural environment. SEPA has appointed a number of additional staff to support this function and also funds research on biodiversity issues and awards small grants to biodiversity conservation projects.

  Other public bodies, including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund provide funding for biodiversity action.

  In addition, a wide range of public bodies across Scotland are actively engaged in furthering biodiversity conservation, as required by the biodiversity duty in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Cancer

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to prevent skin cancer.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive jointly funds the SunSmart campaign which is co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK and has been running since 2003.

  NHS Board Health Promotion Departments are also active in the promotion of healthy lifestyles including the provision of information and advice on sun safety.

Community Wardens

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many community wardens have been employed since the announcement by the Minister for Communities on 18 February 2004 in respect of addressing anti-social behaviour issues.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the impact of community wardens.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29407 by Ms Margaret Curran on 1 October 2002, under what circumstances the (a) local authority and (b) police would be the appropriate agency for a neighbourhood warden to report to.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29407 by Ms Margaret Curran on 1 October 2002, whether the details of the neighbourhood warden schemes have now been finalised.

Hugh Henry: Our funding has enabled every council to establish a community warden scheme with around 550 now patrolling Scotland’s streets. Employment and reporting arrangements for community wardens are a matter for local agencies. We have commissioned an evaluation of the implementation and impact of community warden schemes, which is expected to report by early 2007.

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23721 by Lewis Macdonald on 18 March 2002, which local authorities have concessionary travel schemes for (a) children aged under 16, (b) 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education courses and (c) 16 to 18-year-olds who are not on full-time education courses, not in receipt of jobseekers allowance, living independently and receive a living allowance from social work departments, broken down by (i) year and (ii) local authority.

Tavish Scott: The information requested is provided in the following table. Concessionary travel for young people is a discretionary matter for local authorities. All 16 local concessionary travel schemes give concessions to disabled young people under the age of 18 if they meet their scheme’s specific eligibility criteria.

  Local Authority Concessionary Travel Schemes for Young People

  

Scheme Type
2003 -04
2004 -05
2005 -06


Children Aged Under 16
Clackmannanshire
(14 – 15)
Falkirk
(14 – 15)
Shetland
(5 – 16)
Stirling
(14 – 15)
Western Isles
(5 – 16)
Clackmannanshire
(14 – 15)
Falkirk
(14 – 15)
Shetland
(5 – 16)
Stirling
(14 – 15)
Western Isles
(5 – 16)
Clackmannanshire
(14 – 15)
Falkirk
(14 – 15)
Shetland
(5 – 16)
Stirling
(14 – 15)
Western Isles
(5 – 16)


16 -18 Year Olds in Full-Time Education 
Fife
Aberdeen City
Fife
Aberdeen City
Fife


16 – 18 Year Olds Not in Full-Time Education or in Receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, who Live Independently and are in Receipt of a Living Allowance from Social Work Departments 
None
None
None

Digital Technology

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop wireless internet coverage across Scotland and, if so, whether it will give details in respect of the level of coverage and timescale.

Nicol Stephen: We currently have no such plans.

Digital Technology

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Wi-Fi networks are operational and what the extent is of existing Wi-Fi coverage.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not held centrally.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve services for children of drug or alcohol-dependent parents.

Hugh Henry: The proposals in Getting it Right for Every Child will improve services for all children, including those whose parents are misusing drugs or alcohol. This will be achieved through integrated assessments, a single electronic record and an agreed plan of action to meet an individual’s needs. Where multi-agency inputs are required, a lead professional will be appointed to ensure that agreed actions are undertaken and that progress is reviewed.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to increase the number of residential places available for the children of drug or alcohol-dependent parents.

Robert Brown: Through integrated children’s services planning, it is for local agencies to determine the services needed in their local area to make sure children get the help they need when they need it.

  It is, therefore, for local authorities to ensure they have sufficient foster and residential places available for vulnerable children. To assist local authorities further, we are providing an additional £12 million funding over two years to enable them to improve recruitment and retention of foster carers, and to increase placement choice.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the support available to drug or alcohol-dependent parents and their children to address their dependency and associated problems without removing the children from the family home.

Hugh Henry: We have steadily increased investment across the range of treatments in the last five years: £33.6 million will be allocated to NHS boards for drug and alcohol treatment services in 2006-07. The Executive’s Sure Start programme will provide £57 million in 2006-07 to local authorities to enable them to work with health services and other organisations to support our most vulnerable children and families. The Changing Children’s Services Fund will provide over £65 million in 2006-07 to support local authorities and their partners to improve the quality and integration of services for children and young people, including those involved in or affected by substance misuse.

  While every effort is made to work within the family setting, the welfare of the child remains paramount. There are local procedures in place to assess whether or not removal would be in the best interests of the child.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information provided under the Standard Statements set out in Consultation on Draft Quality Standards for substance misuse services will include options for detoxification and rehabilitation.

Hugh Henry: The draft National Quality Standards for Substance Misuse Services describe the quality of provision expected from services treating people with alcohol or drug problems, including services offering detoxification and rehabilitation.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what appropriate professional help will be made available to people with drug and alcohol addiction if they have needs the service cannot meet, as stated in Standard Statement 7 of Consultation on Draft Quality Standards for substance misuse services .

Hugh Henry: The draft National Quality Standards for Substance Misuse Services, Statement 7, advocates that an individual’s assessed needs should be met, even if a particular service cannot provide these, by seeking a referral to a service designed to meet those specific needs.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total Gross Value Added is at current basic prices for (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority area in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The latest cash estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA or GDP at basic prices) available for Scotland are presented in the Office for National Statistics Regional Accounts. These provide a provisional estimate of GVA at current prices for Scotland in 2004 of £82 billion, an increase from £78.5 billion in 2003; 2004 is the latest year for which figures are available.

  Estimates of GVA at current prices are not available at local authority level, however the Office for National Statistics provides sub-regional estimates to Eurostat based on a geographical framework known as NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics). The lowest level geography at which GVA estimates are made is NUTS Level 3, but these geographical units do not correspond exactly to local authority areas.

  The latest sub-regional estimates for Scotland from the Regional Accounts are for 2003 and are presented the following table.

  Table 1: Sub-Regional Current Price GVA1 Estimates for Scotland, 2003

  

 
GVA at Current Prices 2003
(£ Million)


Scotland2
78,504


North Eastern Scotland3
10,599


Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and North East Moray4
10,599


Eastern Scotland3
29,841


Angus and Dundee City4
3,461


Clackmannanshire and Fife4
4,490


East Lothian and Midlothian4
1,758


Scottish Borders4
1,185


Edinburgh, City of4
11,613


Falkirk4
1,969


Perth and Kinross and Stirling4
2,990


West Lothian4
2,374


South Western Scotland3
33,858


East and West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh and Lomond4
2,274


Dumfries and Galloway4
1,775


East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire Mainland4
2,714


Glasgow City4
12,829


Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire4
4,862


North Lanarkshire4
3,921


South Ayrshire4
1,545


South Lanarkshire4
3,936


Highlands and Islands3
4,206


Caithness and Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty4
878


Inverness and Nairn and Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey4
1,467


Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh and Argyll and the Islands4
1,064


Eilean Siar (Western Isles) 4
285


Orkney Islands4
231


Shetland Islands4
281



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are presented on a workplace as opposed to a residence basis.

  2. NUTS Level 1.

  3. NUTS Level 2.

  4. NUTS Level 3

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available for teachers and parents to help them to better understand Tourette Syndrome.

Robert Brown: Enquire, the national advice service for additional support for learning, is funded by the Scottish Executive to provide information and advice to parents, young people and practitioners on a range of matters relating to additional support needs, including those involving Tourette’s Syndrome.

Energy Efficiency

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of energy consumption is accounted for by electronic devices on standby.

Nicol Stephen: Information provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’, Market Transformation Programme estimates that in 2004 electricity consumption of equipment on stand-by in households and commercial premises such as offices, retail and hotels, was at least eight TWh across the UK. This figure suggests that around 7% of the UK domestic electricity demand is for devices on stand by.

Further and Higher Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability is of further and higher education courses in customer relations, or subjects associated with customer relations, and in which educational institutions these courses are taught.

Nicol Stephen: Information on individual courses delivered in further and higher education institutions is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

  However, we are aware that there are a number of colleges and higher education institutions which offer courses in customer relations. There is also a wide range of courses which, while not teaching customer relations as a primary focus, incorporate aspects of this training in the course structure.

  Information about these courses, and the institutions at which they are delivered, can be accessed through the websites of Learndirect Scotland, and of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, at:

  http://www.learndirectscotland.com/Search/advancedcoursesearch.

  http://www.ucas.com/search/index.html.

Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to students studying abroad on programmes such as the Erasmus programme and how it will increase this support.

Nicol Stephen: The support available for students studying abroad on programmes such as Erasmus mirrors the support available for all other students attending abroad on a compulsory basis. This includes tuition fees, student loans, young students’ bursaries and supplementary grants, as appropriate. The Executive has no plans to increase this support.

Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the number of Scots students studying abroad as part of their degree course.

Nicol Stephen: We are working with the UK Socrates Council to explore ways of increasing the number of students who study abroad as part of their degree course. This includes organising an event this autumn for the Scottish higher education sector, to highlight the benefits for students of taking part in exchange programmes and discussing how to overcome obstacles to increasing participation.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value was of means warrants issued in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The position in the sheriff courts in respect of the average value of means warrants outstanding is as follows:

  As at January 2004 - £202.

  As at January 2005 - £214.

  As at January 2006 - £221.

  Further information is not held centrally.

Local Government

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amalgamate local authorities with other bodies providing services such as community health, police, fire and rescue services or with enterprise boards or tourist boards.

Mr Tom McCabe: We have no current plans to amalgamate local authorities with other bodies providing services. We continue to support a range of measures to improve joint working between agencies, such as Community Planning, the Joint Future initiative for health and social care and the Business Gateway.

Local Government

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22760 by Mr Tom McCabe on 26 February 2006, when it expects the regulations referred to in the answer to be published; whether discussions have taken, or will take, place between the Executive and HM Revenue and Customs regarding the taxation treatment of payments made under the severance scheme prior to publication of the regulations, whether it expects a definitive statement to be made by HM Revenue and Customs on the tax treatment of these payments and, if so, on what date.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has taken a decision on the recommendations made by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee. Regulations will be published as quickly as possible. A specific date has not been set. Preliminary telephone discussions with HM Revenue and Customs have taken place between officials but any tax and/or National Insurance contributions liability will be determined by the detail of the actual rules that are put in place. Although a scheme already exists for the Welsh Assembly the proposed scheme for councillors in Scotland will need to be considered on its own merits. Further discussion will take place once the regulations are drafted, after which we expect that HM Revenue and Customs will give their opinion on the tax treatment of these payments. We are therefore proceeding on the basis that councillors standing down should receive a severance payment of either £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 depending upon length of service. If it is decided that these payments should be subject to tax and national insurance, these amounts will be increased by £3,000, £4,500, and £6,000 respectively to ensure that long-serving councillors receive a net payment which adequately recognises long service with no pension entitlement.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23001 by Mr Tom McCabe on 7 March 2006, when it will publish the proposed draft regulations that will amend the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Scotland) 1998.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23000 on 16 March 2006, which deals in part with this question. I can also confirm that the discussions referred to in that answer are still on-going.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Lord Advocate

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate provides advice to its Cabinet on political as well as legal matters and whether he has done so in the past.

Cathy Jamieson: The Lord Advocate provides legal advice to the Scottish Cabinet where it is sought. He does not provide advice on political matters.

Malnutrition

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has to eradicate malnutrition in Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: Although the Executive is not aware of evidence to suggest Scotland has a particular problem with malnutrition, the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland standards on food, fluid and nutritional care in hospital put Scotland at the forefront in the UK for dealing with the issue. These advise that all people admitted to hospital should be screened for malnutrition.

Maritime Issues

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the safety record of Melbourne Marine Services, the company which has applied for permission to carry out ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has no such information.

Ministerial Costs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed in the First Minister’s office in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The total number of staff (posts) employed in the First Minister’s private office in each year since 1999 are set out in the following table:

  

Year
Staff


1999-2000
6


2000-01
6


2001-02
8


2002-03
10


2003-04
9


2004-05
9



  The increase in the number of posts reflects the need to engage more effectively with the policy detail and administrative requirements of an increased legislative and parliamentary programme following devolution. The 2002-03 figure includes one post dedicated to the overall management of Ministerial Private Offices which has subsequently been transferred from the First Minister’s Office to the Cabinet Secretariat.

Ministerial Costs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the salaries of staff in the First Minister’s Office was in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The costs for staff in the First Minister’s office are contained in the following table. These figures are based on gross pay and include National Insurance and Superannuation costs and overtime payments. Administration costs are also shown and include travel, hospitality, telecommunications, IT, stationary and other office costs.

  

Year
Staff Costs
(£)
Administration Costs
(£)
Total Costs 
(£)
Total Costs at 1999-2000 
Prices (£)


Part-year June 1999-March 2000
131,258
109,124
240,382
240,382


2000-01
233,952
82,378
316,330
312,242


2001-02
303,205
81,015
384,220
370,111


2002-03
330,928
96,272
427,200
398,843


2003-04
370,926
94,770
465,696
423,554


2004-05
422,535
104,419
526,954
469,300



  Increased costs since 1999 reflect a range of factors including changes to the grading profile of private office posts to engage more effectively with the policy detail and administrative requirements of an increased legislative and parliamentary programme and updated rules allowing middle grade staff in private offices to claim overtime.

  Total staff and administration costs per member of staff in real terms have increased by less than 0.2% (£104) between 2004-05 and 2000-01, the first full year of devolution (from £52,040 to £52,144).

Ministerial Costs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed in the office of the Deputy First Minister in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The total numbers of staff (posts) employed in the Deputy First Minister’s private office since 1999 are set out in the following table:

  

Year
Staff


1999/2000
3


2000-01
4


2001-02
4


2002-03
4


2003-04
5


2004-05
5



  The increase in the number of posts reflects the need to engage more effectively with the policy detail and administrative requirements of an increased legislative and parliamentary programme following devolution.

Ministerial Costs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the office of the Deputy First Minister was in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The costs for staff and administration expenses in the Deputy First Minister’s office are contained in the following table. Staff costs are based on gross pay and include National Insurance and Superannuation costs and overtime payments. Administration costs include travel, hospitality, telecommunications, IT, stationary and other office costs.

  

Year
Staff Costs 
(£)
Administration Costs
(£)
Total Costs
(£)
Total Costs in 1999 Prices (£)


Part-year June 1999- 
March 2000
55,009
22,101
77,110
77,110


2000-01
106,467
33,299
139,766
137,960


2001-02
116,924
32,527
149,451
143,963


2002-03
129,436
30,736
160,172
149,540


2003-04
164,149
56,459
220,608
200,659


2004-05
211,962
61,324
273,286
243,383



  Increased costs since 1999 reflect a range of factors including changes to the grading profile of private office posts to engage more effectively with the policy detail and administrative requirements of an increased legislative and parliamentary programme and updated rules allowing middle grade staff in private offices to claim overtime. The change in ministerial portfolio responsibilities on the Deputy First Minister’s office, from Justice to Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, has also impacted on the requirement for travel, etc.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with availability status codes have waited for over six months for treatment in each quarter since March 1997.

Mr Andy Kerr: The specific information requested is not available. The recording of Availability Status Codes on in-patient and day case discharge data is not mandatory. It is not therefore possible to identify from the available data whether those patients who waited over six months before treatment held an Availability Status Code.

  Census data, provided by NHS boards to ISD Scotland and published each quarter, shows number of patients waiting over specified periods as at the census date. This census data does identify all patients with an Availability Status Code and it is therefore possible to report on the number of patients with a guarantee and an Availability Status Code waiting over specified periods on that census date.

  As I announced in December 2004, the Availability Status Code system is being abolished and from the end of 2007 we will have a clearer, more transparent system that is fairer to patients.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23572 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 March 2006, whether the same method is used to record the number of patients waiting for angiography and angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft as is used to record the number of patients waiting over six months for in-patient treatment.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of patients waiting for angiography or cardiac revascularisation (angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft) is measured and reported using a quarterly census carried out by Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland (ISD Scotland) involving all NHS boards in Scotland. The information is published on the ISD Scotland web site as soon as it is available. Explanatory notes on the website provide details of the source of the information. These notes make clear that the information about patients waiting for cardiac treatment is derived from the same census as that used to provide data about in-patients and day cases generally.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of Scottish Health Statistics - Acute Hospital Care on 23 February 2006, how many angiography and angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft patients were treated within (a) eight and (b) 18 weeks in each quarter of the last five years, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of patients.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the following table:

  NHSScotland In-Patient/Day Case Discharges for People Seen Within Eight Weeks (Angiography) or 18 Weeks (Angioplasty and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts) in Absolute Numbers and as a Percentage of all Patients Receiving those Treatments*†

  

Discharged During Quarter End
Angiography‡
Angioplasty
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft


Number wait ≤ 8 weeks
% wait≤ 8 weeks
Number wait ≤ 18 weeks
% wait ≤ 18 weeks
Number wait ≤ 18 weeks
% wait ≤ 18 weeks


March 2000
1,328
68.7
287
86.7
338
57.4


June 2000
1,508
75.9
358
95.5
382
70.2


September 2000
1,303
68.8
392
95.6
404
65.0


December 2000
1,338
71.1
317
93.8
360
65.0


March 2001
1,358
67.4
340
94.2
386
72.4


June 2001
1,266
70.8
322
86.1
399
78.5


September 2001
1,127
63.1
334
88.8
421
78.4


December 2001
1,202
69.0
371
94.2
435
82.4


March 2002
1,359
65.2
363
89.6
392
76.4


June 2002
1,416
72.1
415
87.0
345
82.1


September 2002
1,297
67.6
352
83.2
436
74.2


December 2002
1,322
70.5
343
81.5
376
64.5


March 2003
1,396
63.3
387
83.4
397
71.3


June 2003
1,356
65.2
415
84.7
385
76.2


September 2003
1,417
65.3
405
89.0
421
81.8


December 2003
1,443
70.4
403
84.7
381
79.5


March 2004
1,479
67.4
420
84.0
375
75.8


June 2004
1,234
59.5
461
85.2
357
74.5


September 2004
1,255
55.0
560
90.0
437
87.2


December 2004
1,615
62.5
507
97.3
446
91.2


March 2005
1,877
82.5
540
95.9
424
91.4


June 2005P
1,966
88.2
617
95.2
358
91.6


September 2005P
1,744
89.0
572
97.6
292
91.0


December 2005P
1,440
91.8
474
98.8
219
88.7



  Source: ISD SMR01.

  PProvisional – source data are incomplete for later quarters of 2005

  Notes:

  *Based on routine admissions from the waiting list for in-patient/day case treatment in acute specialties.

  †Includes cases where an Availability Status Code (ASC) applied.

  ‡Data for residents of NHS Fife and NHS Forth Valley undergoing angiography are excluded due to technical reasons affecting the capture of waiting times information for these patients.

  The table includes patients to whom an Availability Status Code (ASC) applied. ASCs describe certain prescribed circumstances when it may not be possible to meet a waiting time standard (for example when a patient refuses a reasonable offer of admission or is medically unfit for surgery).

Nursing

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the recommendations contained in Nursing for Health: A review of the contribution of nurses, midwives and health visitors to improving the public’s health in Scotland concerning school nursing have been implemented.

Lewis Macdonald: All of the recommendations in Nursing for Health: A review of the contribution of nurses, midwives and health visitors to improving the public’s health in Scotland concerning school nursing have been implemented in whole or in part. Progress in relation to each recommendation is outlined in the following table.

  

Nursing for Health Recommendations Regarding School Nurses
Progress of Implementation as at March 2006


1. Health Boards should ensure that school nursing services are part of Primary Care Trusts and play a full role in the work of Local Health Care Co-operatives (LHCCs).
In many NHS Boards, school nursing services are managed by Primary Care Divisions. Public Health Nurse and Practitioner roles are well established in all LHCCs.


2. The Scottish Executive will invest in the education of the existing school nurse workforce to ensure that team leaders have educational and grading parity with existing health visitor colleagues. 
The Scottish Executive Health Department provided funding for education of school nurses. Not all NHS Boards have yet achieved grading parity with existing health visitor colleagues.


3. The Scottish Executive will commission the training of an additional 60 health visitors and support 30 existing school nurses to achieve specialist practice qualifications in the short term.
Funding was given by The Scottish Executive Health Department to Primary Care Divisions to commission training in the new Public Health Nursing course which is available to both Health Visitors and School Nurses.


4. The Scottish Executive will develop a new public health nurse education programme which will bring together the existing specialisms of health visiting and school nursing.
This has been implemented


5. The Scottish Executive will lead the development and implementation of a new model of public health practice within schools. Significant investment will be made in education and preparing the new public health nurses to fulfil this role.
Public Health Nurses are a key part of the public health workforce. They provide a local leadership role for public health practice.


6. NHS Boards should ensure that school health services are fully integrated with LHCCs and work closely with schools and other key local agencies.
Public Health Nurses and Practitioners are well established in LHCCs providing a local leadership role for public health practice. 


7. NHS Boards should review the resourcing of local school health services to ensure that they can develop to meet local need.
Following the publication of A Framework for Nursing in Schools, many NHS Boards have reviewed the resourcing of the school health service.


8. Community Psychiatric Nurses working in child and adolescent mental health should provide support and consultancy to schools and the school health service on dealing with minor mental health issues.
Many Community Psychiatric Nurses working in child and adolescent mental health provide support to the school health service on minor mental health issues.

Olympic Games

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22463 by Patricia Ferguson on 30 January 2006, who represents each of these organisations on the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012; what the level of remuneration is for each individual for their work as a member of Group, and whether they are members by virtue of the organisation they represent or for their own qualities that they will bring to the role.

Patricia Ferguson: Membership of the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 is in the following table:

  

Julie Bracewell (Chair)
Sportscotland
Appointed by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport


Jane Cook
Scottish Enterprise
Identified by organisation represented


Malcolm Roughead
VisitScotland
Identified by organisation represented


David Williams
Event Scotland
Identified by organisation represented


Jim Tough
Scottish Arts Council
Identified by organisation represented


Rod Stone
COSLA
Identified by organisation represented


Ewan Angus
BBC Scotland
Identified by organisation represented


George Thomson
Volunteer Development Scotland
Identified by organisation represented


Colette Cunningham
CBI Scotland
Identified by organisation represented


Liz Cameron
Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Identified by organisation represented


Roy Jobson
ADES
Identified by organisation represented


Mike Haggerty
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Identified by Scottish Steering Group


Richard Brickley
Scottish Disability Sport
Identified by Scottish Steering Group



  Members do not receive remuneration from the Scottish Executive for their work as a member of the group.

Pensions

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations it will introduce in respect of the new pension scheme for firefighters.

Hugh Henry: Based on the agreed new scheme Blueprint, a draft set of regulations will shortly be finalised and issued for consultation. Following consultation, a Statutory Instrument will be prepared and an Order introducing the new scheme from 6 April 2006 will be made.

Pensions

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that firefighters should work until their 60th birthday and, if so, whether it has taken into account any evidence that the required fitness level for firefighters can be maintained until that age.

Hugh Henry: The physical nature of firefighting, as part of a firefighter’s role, has been taken into account in the development of the new firefighters’ pension scheme together with evidence that supports greater longevity and improvements to risk management and training. The new scheme will provide the flexibility of an early retirement option at age 55 together with ill-health benefits where a member is unfit for all the duties included in their role as a firefighter. In the current pension scheme the retirement age is 55 but members can retire at age 50 with a minimum of 25 years service.

Pensions

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that retained firefighters should be allowed to join the existing firefighters’ pension scheme.

Hugh Henry: Consideration of access to the current firefighters pension scheme will be made once the Employment Tribunal has fully considered the recent House of Lords ruling. Retained firefighters will be eligible to join the new Firefighters Pension Scheme from 6 April 2006.

Pensions

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the implications for the public sector in Scotland of the decision by the House of Lords in the case of Matthews and others v Medway Towns and Fire Authority and others.

Hugh Henry: The implications for the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme will be considered once the Employment Tribunal has fully considered the House of Lords ruling.

Planning

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much green open space used for recreational space was lost to development in each local authority area in 2005.

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much green space or recreational land is planned to be developed in each local authority area.

Johann Lamont: This information is not held centrally.

Planning

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority areas have conducted an audit of open space provision in their areas, as set out in Planning Advice Note 65, in the last five years.

Johann Lamont: This information is not held centrally. However, as part of independent research part-funded by the Executive on Minimum Standards for Open Space, researchers contacted all Scottish local authorities seeking information on progress towards the preparation of open space audits and strategies. As of August 2004, 19 local authorities indicated that they had begun preparation or completed an open space audit for all or part of their district.

  A copy of the research report Minimum Standards for Open Space is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37111).

Prescription Charges

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to including sufferers of cystic fibrosis on the list of those exempt from paying NHS prescription charges.

Lewis Macdonald: No decision on whether to change the current criteria for exemption on medical grounds will be taken until the Scottish Executive’s review of NHS prescription charges and exemption arrangements is complete.

  The consultation phase of the review is under way and responses are invited up to the closing date of 30 April 2006. The Executive will subsequently consider what action to take, based on the outcome of the review.

Rail Network

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-8958 by Tavish Scott on 9 February 2006, whether it will provide the details of any agreement reached with Network Rail in respect of the early double tracking of the Edinburgh to Bathgate line and when such agreement was reached.

Tavish Scott: Network Rail are continuing to develop a programme for the early delivery of the double tracking for diesel services east of Bathgate and they have regular discussions with Transport Scotland over this issue.

  As indicated in my statement on 16 March we have reached agreement with Network Rail for the delivery of the early works. The final details of the agreement are still being developed. Once these details are finalised we aim to sign an implementation agreement by the end of 2006.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising in The Scotsman in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive, however our previous and current media buying agencies have provided this information a not cost to the Executive.

  The Scottish Executive advertising spend with The Scotsman from 1 January 2003 to 8 March 2006 is in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Spend


1 January 2003 - 31 March 2003
£35,460


2003-04
£34,138


2004-05 
£46,194


2005-06 (to date) 
£15,091


Total
£130,883



  In addition to this the spend with the Scotsman Magazine is as follows:

  

Financial Year
Spend


1 August 2004 – 31 March 2005
£6,941


2005-06 (to date)
£9,134


Total
£16,075



  The information on spend for the period 2001-02 and 2002-03 prior to 1 January 2003 is no longer held by our previous media buying agency.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising in the Daily Record in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive, however our current media buying agency has provided the information at no cost to the Scottish Executive.

  The Scottish Executive advertising spend with the Daily Record from 1 August 2004 to 14 March 2006 is in the following:

  

Financial Year
Spend


1 August 2004 – 31 Mar 2005
£191,706


1 April 2005 – 14 March 2006
£77,052


Total
£268,758



  The information on spend for the period 2001-02, 2002-03 is no longer held by our previous media buying agency. However, for 2003-04 prior to 31 July 2004 the information can be obtained at cost from the agency.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising in the Sunday Mail in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive advertising spend with the Sunday Mail from 1 August 2004 to 14 March 2006 is in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Spend


1 August 2004 – 31 March 2005
£72,483


1 April 2005 – 14 March 2006
£29,930


Total
£102,413



  The information on spend for the period 2001-02, 2002-03 is no longer held by our previous media buying agency. However, for 2003-04 prior to 31 July 2004 the information can be obtained at cost from the agency.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising in the Sunday Post in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive advertising spend with the Sunday Post from 1 August 2004 to 14 March 2006 is in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Spend


1 Aug 2004 – 31 Mar 2005
£8,715


1 Apr 2005 – 14 Mar 2006
£5,203


Total
£13,918



  The information on spend for the period 2001-02, 2002-03 is no longer held by our previous media buying agency. However, for 2003-04 prior to 31 July 2004 the information can be obtained at cost from the agency.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising with Johnston Press in each of the last five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive advertising spend with Johnston Press from 1 August 2004 to 14 March 2006 is in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Publication
Spend


1 Aug 2004 – 31 Mar 2005
Edinburgh Evening News 
£20,252


 
Falkirk Herald
£1,858


 
Scotland on Sunday
£29,820


 
The Scotsman
£44,034


 
The Scotsman Magazine
£6,941


 
Southern Reporter
£1,186


 
Stornoway Gazette
£778


Total
 
£104,869


1 Apr 2005 – 14 Mar 2006
East Lothian Courier
£2,374


 
Edinburgh Evening News 
£16,642


 
Falkirk Herald
£5,130


 
Scotland on Sunday
£5,207


 
The Scotsman
£19,110


 
The Scotsman Magazine
£6,090


 
Stornoway Gazette
£6,873


Total
 
£61,426



  The information on spend for the period 2001-02, 2002-03 is no longer held by our previous media buying agency. However, for 2003-04 prior to 31 July 2004 the information can be obtained at cost from the agency.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses to its consultation on the possession of extreme pornographic material will be excluded from the analysis of responses due to being blocked by the Executive’s IT system.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take account of the views expressed in responses to its consultation on the possession of extreme pornographic material which were blocked by its IT system.

Cathy Jamieson: I am aware of one response to the consultation on the possession of extreme pornography which was blocked by the Executive’s IT system. Officials have been in contact with the respondent and their response has now been received and will be included in the consultation analysis.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will prevent the electronic blocking of responses to any future consultations on subjects of a sexual content.

Cathy Jamieson: The current process for filtering, blocking and release of e-mails is necessary to ensure that the amount of inappropriate e-mail being received by the Scottish Executive can be kept to a manageable level. However, for future consultations on subjects of a sexual nature, we will consider on a case-by-case basis whether the filter should be disapplied.

Student Finance

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Higher and Further Education Students’ Income, Expenditure and Debt in Scotland 2004-2005 excluded data from students taking a course in a subject allied to medicine.

Nicol Stephen: Students taking a course in a subject allied to medicine were not included in the Higher and Further Students’ Income, Expenditure and Debt in Scotland 2004-05 survey because there are additional student support measures in place for these students as compared to the majority of Higher Education Students support by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland.

  The survey aimed at collecting comprehensive data on full-time students’ income, expenditure and debt, and to identify any differences by students’ socio-economic and institutional characteristics. The focus of the survey is on the condition of students receiving support under the mainstream arrangements that came into place in 2001.

Student Finance

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Higher and Further Education Students’ Income, Expenditure and Debt in Scotland 2004-2005 excluded data from students studying nursing or midwifery.

Nicol Stephen: Nursing and Midwifery students were not included in the Higher and Further Students’ Income, Expenditure and Debt in Scotland 2004-05 survey because there are different student support measures in place for them as compared to the majority of Higher Education Students support by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland.

  The survey aimed at collecting comprehensive data on full-time students’ income, expenditure and debt, and to identify any differences by students’ socio-economic and institutional characteristics. The focus of the survey is on the condition of students receiving support under the mainstream arrangements that came into place in 2001.

Student Finance

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking research to assess the incomes, expenditures and debt of students taking courses in subjects allied to medicine.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking research to assess the incomes, expenditures and debt of undergraduate students who started their course before August 2001.

Nicol Stephen: There are no current plans to carry out such research.

Student Finance

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what total outstanding debt is owed to the Student Loans Company Ltd by Scottish-domiciled borrowers.

Nicol Stephen: The total outstanding debt owed to the Student Loans Company Ltd by Scottish-domiciled borrowers up to and including financial year 2004-05 is £1,474,569,000.

Student Finance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average debt burden is borne by graduating students in Scotland and whether it holds this information broken down by specific degree categories.

Nicol Stephen: This information is contained in the survey report Higher and Further Education Students’ Income, Expenditure and Debt 2004-05 , published by the Scottish Executive in November 2005.

  The average debt on graduation of Scottish undergraduate students expecting to graduate in 2004-05 was £7,561 for those studying at a higher education institute, and £2,616 for those studying at a college. A further breakdown by degree category is not available. Full details are contained in Tables 5.20 and 5.21 of the Higher and Further Education Students’ Income, Expenditure and Debt 2004-05 report, available from the Scottish Executive’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/llstatistics, see under Publications.

Waste Management

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any known health risks for people living in the vicinity of a waste incinerator and, if so, whether it will outline the risks involved.

Lewis Macdonald: Incinerators emit pollutants into the environment and some of these pollutants are known or are considered likely to cause or exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Others, such as dioxins and furans are known or suspected human carcinogens. However, the public health risks associated with these emissions depend on the actual levels of the emissions and the resultant exposures of members of the public, including sensitive groups.

  Waste incinerators are now subject to more stringent emission standards in line with the Waste Incineration Directive, the aim of which is to prevent or to limit as far as practicable negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health from the incineration of waste.

  A Position Statement on Municipal Solid Waste Incineration by the UK Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards concludes that "Incinerators emit pollutants into the environment but provided they comply with modern regulatory requirements, such as the Waste Incineration Directive, they should contribute little to the concentrations of monitored pollutants in ambient air. Epidemiological studies, and risk estimates based on estimated exposures, indicate that the emissions from such incinerators have little effect on health."

  This advice is consistent with that from the most authoritative expert advisory groups and the view of the Scottish Executive Health Department is that emissions from incinerators operating within current regulatory limits do not pose unacceptable health risks to members of the public generally or to sensitive groups.

Waste Management

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what health monitoring takes place of people living in the vicinity of waste incinerators.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive Health Department is not aware of any specific health monitoring currently in place for people living in the vicinity of waste incinerators. This position is in keeping with the view of the Scottish Executive Health Department that emissions from incinerators operating within current regulatory limits do not pose significant health risks to members of the public generally or to sensitive groups.

Waste Management

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the ash from waste incinerators poses any health risks in relation to its transportation and placement in landfill sites.

Lewis Macdonald: The UK Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards has produced a Position Statement on Municipal Solid Waste Incineration which concludes that "The incineration process can result in three main sources of emissions, (1) gaseous to the atmosphere, (2) via solid ash residues, and (3) via cooling water. Provided that solid ash residues and cooling water are handled and disposed of appropriately, atmospheric emissions remain the only significant route of exposure to humans."

  Regulation of the proper handling and disposal of ash and waste from incinerators is a matter for Scottish Environment Protection Agency. We have no evidence of any instance where the handling and disposal of wastes from incinerators in Scotland has failed to meet the current regulatory requirements.